Monday 1 August 2016

Summer Bounty

The weekend was quiet after such a hectic week, but we enjoyed the peace and getting the house back in order.  Our next lot of visitors arrive tomorrow, Lucy and the girls.  Then we are all driving down to Ampthill to Amie's for a barbeque on Saturday.  A day of rest Sunday and Victoria and the boys arrive Monday.  I love the crazy hectic days of Summer.  We still have not been able to book our holiday as Gerard is  on weekly blood tests and visits to the hospital fortnightly.  The right medication has been a little elusive this time round and taking longer than normal to sort.  Time will tell how things progress.

We have been enjoying the bounty from our garden once again, lettuce and spring onions are been harvested on a daily basis.  I have just pulled the last of the broad beans and intend to freeze them for a taste of Summer in the cooler months.


 
I have also picked the gooseberries off one bush and was inspired by a blog that I had read earlier to add a load of strawberries to make strawberry and gooseberry jam.  Gooseberries have a high pectin content so the jam sets rapidly.
 
 
I did pick the last of the strawberries from the garden but I have put them in the fridge for after our meal this evening.
 
 
The strawberries I used for the jam were some that I picked up yesterday on a yellow sticker for 13p a punnet from our local supermarket.  At that price it was rude not too.  I used the River Cottage cookbook recipe for the jam, it certainly reached setting point very quickly.
 
 
4 jars were made for the Winter store cupboard, a wonderful taste of Summer in a jar to evoke the amazing memories of a long hazy Summer filled with love and laughter and lots of rain but I am trying to forget about that.  The tomatoes have been a complete disaster this year, must check back and see what variety we used so not to use them again next year.  We have been lucky, a man sells his surplus from small holding so we are getting home grown, you can certainly taste the difference from those bought from the supermarket.
 
The skies on an evening too are a joy to behold, we have managed to stroll along the beach a couple of times and it has been amazing.  The gentle lapping of the sea as it rolls onto the sand is music to my hears, a stark difference to the crashing of the waves in the Winter months.
 


 
 
Summer at its finest.   What Summer memories do you want to treasure?
 
See you soon.
 

33 comments:

  1. Beautiful sky pictures and I have never heard of gooseberry and strawberry jam. Will give it a go next year!

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  2. Jam reminds me of the Summer, I try to make plenty to see us through the winter, Strawberry & Gooseberry does sound very good. Well done on your bargains x

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  3. So good to have company, that always makes me clean my house more than normal. Hope you get your husband's medicine sorted so you can go on vacation. Great photos.

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  4. I hope the medication gets sorted sooner rather than later. How lovely to be able to hear the sea. The waves lapping the shore is such a soothing sound. X

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  5. Sounds like your summer is full. I'm not that familiar with gooseberries, I'll have to look them up. I've seen them at one of the on-line catalogs I buy from but don't know what they taste like. Enjoy your family. Heather

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  6. You write such a beautiful post. Hope your husband's medicine gets straightened out and you can go on that holiday. I've missed your last few posts and enjoyed catching up and seeing all those sweet grandchildren. Sounds like you have had the same problems with tomatoes in the garden that I've had. Mine are a disaster too.

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  7. we are getting our first tomatoes!! I just keep dreaming of fall (I'm not a summer lover). hope he gets the medicine sooner than later!!

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  8. Wonderful skies! Broad beans fresh from the garden are a summer favourite. I hope your husband's meds are soon sorted and you can enjoy some time away.

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  9. Broad beans are just wonderful! I must try to grow them next year. I love to cycle through the summer breeze with my hair blowing in the air, a great summer memory. Wishing your husband look with the tests and medication. x

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  10. I've been enjoying the sunsets here too and those shots are wonderful.
    I'm sure your jam is delicious! Good for you!
    Enjoy your week with the family!

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  11. Such lovely photos! The evening sky is so pretty.
    You are having a busy summer with lots of company! Keeps you busy I'm sure.

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  12. I do hope they manage to find the right medication for your husband soon.
    The jam looks lovely. I miss jam making but we just don't eat enough of it now to make it worthwhile:(

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  13. Your jam looks so pretty ...like jewels in a jar. Are gooseberries sweet or tart? I've never had any (or seen any here in Florida).

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  14. Goodness, you're having lots of family time this summer! Our big memory from this summer will be getting our boat - and we leave in a week and a half for our big camping trip at the lake. Have fun! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  15. You are so lucky to have family visiting again. Love the jams and photos. The sunset is gorgeous.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  16. So nice to have so many visitors! Love seeing all the delicious looking fruits and veggies. So nice to have jam in the winter to remember sweet summer days. I'm just trying to savor each and every day - summer flies by so quickly! Hope your day is sweet. x K

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  17. How wonderful your garden bounty looks! And how relaxing and beautiful is your sky photos

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  18. How wonderful your garden bounty looks! And how relaxing and beautiful is your sky photos

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  19. What a nice time you had ! From summer we haven't seen very much, it was mostly cold and grey so far !

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  20. You certainly have a delightful and bountiful harvest, my friend. And oh my, what beautiful sky photos.

    Have a blessed week! Hugs and joy!

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  21. It looks and sounds as if you have been a busy girl! I have never had gooseberries that I know of but it has to be just wonderful, especially mixed with strawberries...and your jam looks yummy! Beautiful sky shots as well!

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  22. You dont stop !!! Always doing something and planning others !!!
    Lovely skies !
    Have a quiet day ;)
    Anna

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  23. All of your garden goodies look so wonderful. What a peaceful sky photo!

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  24. It sounds like a busy, but enjoyable, time in your house at the moment. I hope they manage to get Gerard's medication sorted out soon, that's no fun at all for him. The jam looks very tasty, just the thing to pull out of the cupboard when we're up to our ears in snow, the perfect reminder that spring and summer are on their way.

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  25. You're so talented to grow them and can them up too! Love that.

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  26. I always treasure summer moments by the beach... I love the sights, smells, and sounds (any time of the year, really). I am jealous of your garden. We've always talked about having one, but have never put the effort into doing the work. I haven't ever had gooseberries... I'm going to have to see if I can find some in my area. Lovely post :)

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  27. My first time seeing gooseberries. Gooseberries and strawberries jam is something new to me. You have captured some beautiful sunsets.

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  28. Your summer moments are lovely ones. I've been making jams for that taste of summer in winter that you mentioned. The colour in the sunset skies is just lovely. There are so many moments I want to hold close in my heart this summer - our trip, times with the grandchildren and children, and the small joys of working in the garden, smelling the roses, and just being alive!

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  29. Summertime at your home looks beautiful. Your garden has really produced a lot of goodies. My poor tomato plants were eaten by some very large worms. As we were away on vacation, we weren't here to take care of our garden. I loved seeing the gooseberries; I love gooseberry pie! Enjoy your day dear friend, Pat xx

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  30. It has been a decidedly different summer here, but I did take my grandsons for ice cream today, specifically Razzles, which they talked me into, too. I just love having my rubber elbow bent that way.

    My maternal grandfather loved gooseberries. He'd be a fan of your preserves for sure. I never could bring myself to try them. Can't imagine why... Maybe I'm thinking "grapes." =D

    Glad that you are out enjoying a stroll along the beach. That sounds very pleasant and your time with daughters and grands sounds wonderful, too.

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  31. Nice pickings from your garden and a grab of strawberries for jam elsewhere sounds grand. I just picked my first tomato this evening. A stroll along the beach sounds wonderful. WE enjoyed our beach trip with the whale watch. That's something of a good summer memory for sure with my husband! Hugs and happy days to you!

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  32. Bunnies have been eating all of my strawberries before they even ripen. We haven't gotten a single one. I have never had gooseberries. I love your sunset pictures. Enjoy all of your visitors. Hectic but fun.

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  33. Glad you had a quiet weekend! Your jam looks nice ♥

    summerdaisy.net

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